WW: Uncles Make Best Friends!

Landen's best friends are my two younger brothers Eli and Ethan. He asks daily to see them - here's Eli and Landen walking the canal - arguing over a stick! Ha ha.

Wear Your Baby!

It's International Baby-wearing week, how can I not post pictures??! You can read my other baby-wearing post here. Get on the Baby-wearing Blog Roll and meet other baby-wearers like you, it's more common than you think!
This photo is different with the shadows, I like it. Brennan was so peaceful, how can you not just keep kissing that little head.


Babywearing is even for the Auntees in my childrens lives! Amelia with Mikyla in the Ergo.
We seriously need a child's baby-carrier! Amelia loves wearing her babies and bears. Big girl undies!!!!
Mommy and Brennan, this is how we live during the week. These were all taken this past week. Daddy wears the babies too, I just never get a picture - darn me.

WW: My handsome man!

I missed posting something about our Anniversary back on September 4th. We celebrated five years of marriage and actually went out to dinner with only Brennan! Love you sweetie. Thank you for all the hard work you do for your family.

Our Growing Family!

Finally a family picture! I'm making a photo quilt for review and had to get one, thank goodness because Brennan is growing and growing and I hate to not have one while he's little. We tried to weigh him today while Kurt held him and we think he's already 10 pounds! WOW... he's already out grown some of the cloth diapers I made, I had to adjust the rise on several of them as well. Oh and he's already outgrown clothing - in three weeks. Got Milk? LOL! He's a growing boy! Amelia is holding pop-it's as we call them (those things that go in packages that pop) she screamed if we took them. Landen is being a goof, love him. Brennan has a red face because he was pooping. Ha ha ha! Oh the adventures of trying to get a family shot.

I believe -

Can we go to church, please?

The kids and I ventured out on our own earlier this week. I had to drop somethings off at the church office for Brennan's Baptism and run another errand. When we were getting ready to leave Landen & Amelia asked if we could please go to church. Not exactly wanting to, I listened to my children's request and we went in.

As we walked through the door, only the Parish priest from the other Catholic church in town there both kids made the sign of the cross with holy water, genuflected, entered the pew, crashed down the kneeler and said their prayers. No prompting at all like when we attend on Sunday. After a few minutes of loud prayer and banging of the kneeler, they genuflected out of the pew, signed themselves with holy water and we left. It wasn't much, just a brief visit.

It was nice, it was peaceful! Makes me want to get back to Children's Adoration. =)

Birth Story - As I Know It.

*Part II posted below this post*

I've been meaning to sit down and write the birth story of Brennan since he was born, but that's been near impossible. Of course some things are a blur now but here it goes, as I remember it...

Brennan's Birth Story Part I

All started Monday, August 3rd, 2009 the kids and I played outside a lot that day. I started having contractions that weren't your typical braxton hicks, but figured I was doing a bit too much running around with water balloons and playing in the sprinkler. Evening came and into night and they were still coming and going, but nothing significant. I called my mom the next morning and told her what was going on, honestly thinking we would be having a baby within the next few days. The days went on, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday with the same thing. The weekend came and everything stopped, I was a bit discouraged and now my due date had passed. Monday came and went, Tuesday, Wednesday and then Thursday, August 13, 2009 I woke up at 3:00 am having regular contractions lasting over a minute and less than three minutes apart. With them being that regular I called my mom who also called the other midwife and they were on their way. I remember telling my mom - they don't hurt though, but with them being so close they came. They continued like that for a few hours until they got here - changing positions, etc made things go away. I felt like an idiot - my other two births were so different, I didn't do any of this before - my gosh, when you have contractions you should be having the baby. Right? I even blogged about going to have a baby that day. They checked me and I was 5cm and 80% effaced... horrible... I could have days, weeks to go yet. Ugh! This just can't be, the pool is set up, filled with water, everything is ready. Ahhh! Oh well, everyone went home, Kurt went to work - they days went by again. I was discouraged only because I didn't want to think about it anymore. If I'm going to have contractions then fine, but I felt like I couldn't really do anything because I was waiting on this baby. The next weekend we tried to do some different things so I wouldn't just sit and think about it and yet another week started.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 I woke up again around 3:00am with those same contractions, lasting over a minute, less than three minutes apart. What to do?? Kurt and I timed them (they seemed to be a little stronger - what do I know by this point?) Called my mom and we decided to have her stay home instead of rushing up here for nothing again. Kurt went back to bed and I couldn't sleep - so I sat on the birthing ball and caught up on blogs that I hadn't been keeping up with much. I went to the bathroom a little after five and . . . what?. . . bloody show. YES.. maybe this wasn't nothing after all. I went and told Kurt and called my mom back. Nothing else had really changed besides that so Kurt went to work, mom stayed home did her thing, kept in contact with the other midwife. What is a girl to do. . . won't this baby just come out already??? The kids got up, fed them and talked to mom again. It was time to get to business. . . Ha ha! The contractions were consistent and I wanted to have that baby that day so the kids and I ventured out on a walk around our neighborhood. Landen rode is bike and Amelia walked or had to be carried - I was drenched in sweat and exhausted from being up most of the night when we got back, but we went on. Landen and I played baseball, I ran up and down our steep driveway so many times I can't even count. If anything I'll bounce this baby out! Finally it was lunch time - BREAK - alleluia. I came in and tons and tons of bloody show, told ya I'd do something. The contractions continued, but didn't seem as strong anymore. Noooo! I talked to my mom, who had just talked to the other midwife and said I can do nothing or I could keep moving and possibly speed things along. What do you think I was going to do? That's right. . . I got the wagon out, made both the kids get in and walked the cemetery. Now let me explain, the cemetery that we walk isn't a nice little flat cemetery, it's huge and it's hilly - big, great walking hills. I pulled that wagon through all but one hill (which I won't even walk when I'm not pregnant) and what happened... NOTHING. The contractions came to a halt.. gosh dang it. We came home, the kids watched a movie and I sat on the birthing ball and did the stair steps.. nothing. Lalala. The UPS came, the kids got the new hamster toys and wanted me to put this together (this was around 3:00pm), so not wanting to (this kind of job is for Kurt) but the kids really wanting me to - I sat down on the hard wood floor and started the task... the contractions started up again and a bit more fierce I do say. Finally a little after 4 I got it all together and Kurt got home. By now I am tired, cranky and just wanted to rest and have Kurt go and get me some chicken nuggets, that's all I wanted was some dang chicken nuggets. We kind of got in an argument, I cried for the first time in who knows how long and made a stupid easy meal. I was ticked off and just wanted to relax... Let me tell you, Kurt and I do not typically fight or argue much really, but when it comes to meal planning, preparing, eating out we do. It's awful! However I do think I had a good reason this time... which he found out later. Ha ha ha! That evening we let the kids watch television while we watched a Law and Order SVU in the other room (something we never do). The contractions were on and off, I called my mom after 9:00pm, discouraged, cranky and tired. I figured I was going to be like my mom and have show for weeks before the baby arrived.. so once we got the kids to sleep it was just before 10:00pm and . . .hello the contractions started in full force.... to be continued.

*Belly a day before baby is born. 10 days overdue. View from the side and the mommy view*

Brennan's Birth II

Brennans Birth Story Part II

At 10:00 pm when I was finally able to lay down to go to sleep the contractions started, fierce and mean. I kept jumping up from bed, not able to get comfortable. They really hurt! I remember timing them as best I could and attempting to talk to Kurt. I kept thinking, they're nothing I'm going back to bed. I did this, laid down and immediately was up again. I don't really remember how long this lasted but standing next to the sink just feeling a little out of control, not knowing how to handle the contractions or anything. I called my mom and told her I wasn't sure how close the contractions were but I just needed her to come. We timed for awhile, called my mom who was already dressed and coming, who called the midwife and they were both on their way. I set up my Our Lady of Guadalupe candle, my lavender scented one, started the music I had all prepared and by the time they arrived 45 minutes later I had figured out how to breath with the contractions while squatting next to a wall and then walking in between them. It wasn't so bad after all.

This went on for a couple hours until I started going into transition - I remember really having to concentrate on the contractions more. The other midwife telling a funny story about her daughter and husband and no longer being able to really laugh and talk much. I found a weird little spot to squat down and started working with the contractions. I don't particularly like this part because I feel like I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. Stand, sit, squat, push, get comfortable or get in a position to make the contractions intense to get this baby out. Of course the last is the good one, but that option stinks. I kind of floated around the room doing this, squatting and really working. I remember them telling me to not waste the contraction but to work with them all to get the baby to come. I wanted to cry, I felt disappointed in myself for just wanting to quit - why couldn't the baby just come out already? I was so exhausted. I didn't remember how to push, what was I supposed to do? I was hating this. By the time I really felt like I couldn't do it anymore, no matter how much I told myself I could - I got into the wonderful amazing birth pool. Kurt was sitting in a backwards chair next to the pool and I was on my knees leaning on the pool next to him. I remember just shutting my eyes thinking how much more relaxing and comfortable the pool was, and that I'm going to just go to sleep for awhile then I can do this, they won't even know. Ha ha ha.. mental. After probably a minute of thinking that I was like. . . what am I thinking? I turned around and asked for them to telling me how to push again - Push like your pooping out a watermelon, okay NO. I had Kurt counting to ten for me so I could push for at least ten seconds without stopping. I remember apologizing because I couldn't make it to ten. Then I remember it just clicking thinking - I can do this, I'm not messing around. I'm made to have this baby and I can do it!The next contraction I pushed and pushed like I was pooping out a watermelon (I love how Kurt has to remind me often about how much poop there is, hey it comes with birth, get used to it), when it stopped I said.. "do you see the baby yet?".. We see about a dime of his head".. Me: "oh no".. the next contraction wasn't much.. the next I pushed that baby out all the way to his eye balls and then a little more so he wouldn't be getting his eyes squished. I remember them asking if I wanted to reach down and touch his head, part of me wanted to but the other part of me needed to continue to work - and this I did. By the next contraction I had my baby in my arms. 3:07am...Woah, that was work! I got him in my arms and Kurt and I just stared at him, thinking the same thing as always.. he's beautiful, perfect, amazing, tears in your eyes a bit. And of course is he okay, are they supposed to be a little purple and is he breathing?? Ha ha, he was completely perfect! I then tried to get him to nurse, he wasn't much interested at first but a little bit. After a minute or two we looked and saw we had a little man and in came our little Amelia and my sister Becca! Kurt cut the cord and I pushed out the placenta. A couple minutes later I, with some help got our of the pool and took a shower while daddy loved up his new baby boy. By the time I was out of the shower things were picked up and I got dressed and into bed. Brennan nursed and then we weighed and measured him and got him dressed. Since it was early I went down stairs and got comfortable on the couch with our new little guy and he cuddled up nursed and fell asleep.

I'm sure there are details and things I do not remember. I remember thinking I did badly with this birth, getting discouraged easily and not wanting to do it, but was told I did great! That's always refreshing. And yes, I want to have another baby - lets just wait a little while. =) I only wish I would have gotten some good pictures of the pool and things. Waterbirth is so amazing, I can't imagine giving birth without it. If you would like to read more information visit Waterbirth International online and here's a video that I really like from their site. There is nudity but it just shows the beauty of birth. This always makes me cry. We are made to give birth and it should be a beautiful experience for us all. God bless!

WW: 3 Weeks Old Today

He may look a little strange with his male patterned baldness that has just recently really become very noticeable - it's definitely becoming a horse shoe shape around the bottom of his head, but I still love him!Maybe he should leave a hat on! lol!

WW: Shoes

I'm not the only one who makes this little girl stylish - Becca has a helping hand! Are these not the cutest shoes ever??